Plans to replace an outdated fire station on 1820 Wiehle Avenue are in-the-works in order to meet increasing demands fueled by population growth in Reston.

The $13 million project calls for replacing Reston Fire and Rescue Station 25, which was built in 1972 and last upgraded in 1986, with a two-story station more than double the size of the current site.

The new 17,150-square-foot station will include four bays with a “contemporary look to compliment the urban feel of Reston Town Center,” according to plans submitted to the county this month.

The current 7,750-square-foot fire station is “grossly undersized” with only two-and-a-half bays, leaving little room for storing equipment and managing additional responders and units. Service demands are also expected to increase as construction and residential development rapidly expands in the immediate area, according to the plans.

If approved by the county, construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2019 and be completed by early spring of 2021.

Lisa Goddard, a project manager for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Service, said the transition from a one-story to two-story building was well-received by the community at a Reston Planning and Zoning Committee meeting earlier this week.

“It will anticipate the growth for the Reston area,” Goddard told Reston Now. “And that’s the big concern given how Reston is growing so much.”

The new station will also include space for programming on the second floor, along with administrative offices, a dayroom, kitchen, storage and bunk rooms.

Expected construction costs are not available because the project is still in the design phase, Goddard said. Roughly $13 million has been allocated. The fire station is one of five stations slated for upgrades under a bond referendum in 2015.

During the course of the project, the fire station’s operations will temporarily move to 1800 Cameron Glen Drive.

Owner of Koko FitClub Celebrates First Year of Ownership Today — The club, which is located in North point Shopping Center, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony today from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. to celebrate the owner’s first year of ownership. The club was recently renovated to create a lighter and brighter environment, according to the owner. [Koko FitClub]

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Reunite with Trauma Patients at Reston Hospital Center — In a blog post on the department’s website, Battalion Chief Bill Betz and Captain Wayne Wentzel detail an event in late November during which crews met with three trauma patients that were treated and transported to the hospital by the department’s firefighters and paramedics. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Make Sushi Rolls at Obi Sushi in Reston Town Center — The restaurant, which is located on 1771 Library St., is offering classes on how to make sushi rolls on Saturday from 2 – 4 p.m. The cost is $50 per person. Register by calling 703-766-7874. [Reston Town Center via Facebook]

Early Education Discussed in ‘Connecting with Supervisor Hudgins’ Show — In this month’s Channel 16 program, Cathy Hudgins discusses the importance of pre-K programs to help children get a head start in school. [Channel 16]

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Creates Reston Profile — The organization created a profile for Reston, which lists the community as the second-largest commercial market in Fairfax County and indicates 66 percent of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Major employers in the area include Fortune 500 firms like Leidos and NVR. [Fairfax County EDA]

Herndon Restaurant Fire Caused By Unattended Cooking — A fire on Saturday in the late afternoon on the 1000 block of Eldon St. in Herndon was caused by unattended cooking. A wok filled with cooking oil was left on the stove. A violation notice was issued for the restaurant’s commercial fire suppression system. Crews from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Herndon High School and Herndon Middle School Partner to Provide Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals — The schools are partnering to raise money for 210 meals for students who struggle with food insecurity. A goal of $10,500 has been set for the initiative, which is run through a partnership with Food For Neighbors. Donations can be made online. [Food for Neighbors]

Volunteers Enhance Safety at Fellowship House —Nearly two dozen volunteers gathered at the Hunter Woods Fellowship House in Reston on Nov. 11 to make bathrooms in the 222-unit apartment complex more accessible. [Fairfax County Times]

Holiday Performances on The Promenade Announced — Reston Town Center will feature outdoor musical performances on The Promenade, including the Northern Virginia Ukulele Society at noon on Dec. 17, Catchin’ Toads at 3 p.m. on Dec. 17 and Tenor Tim McKee at noon on Dec. 23. [Reston Town Center]

Local Group Celebrates 50 Years of Volleyball in Reston — The group, Hickory Volleyball, was founded in 1967 by longtime Restonian Philip Lilienthal, founder and president of Global Camps Africa. [Fairfax County Times]

The tour “focuses on six homes whose owners have moved in within the last few years and whose homes have given them a new perspective on their life, their surroundings and in some cases their attitudes.” The homes on the tour include residences on Bromley Village Lane, Hemingway Drive, Orchard Lane, South Shore Road and Spyglass Cove Lane, as well as at the Stratford condominiums. In addition, Reston Association’s Lake House and Bozzuto’s Aperture apartment building will be open for tour.

Tickets remain available online today for $30. On the day of the event, they can only be purchased in person at any of the homes on the tour or at the Reston Museum and Historic Trust (1639 Washington Plaza N.). All proceeds from the event benefit the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the past, informing the present and influencing the future of Reston through its educational programming, archives and exhibitions.

There is plenty else scheduled to take place this weekend in the area as well. Take a look at our list below.

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

A trail of illuminated hand-carved pumpkins is welcoming visitors to “THE GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience,” now through Oct. 29 at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive). Presented by Townsquare Live Events, the “enchanting Halloween wonderland” features a third-of-a-mile trail decorated with more than 5,000 pumpkins. Tickets, which are $16 for kids ages 3-12 and $22 for adults, are available online and must be purchased in advance.

Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 W. Ox Road, Herndon) will put on its Fall on the Farm festival this weekend. The event is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. tonight, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. In addition, Farm Harvest Days are slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Children’s Fall Flea Market at Reston Community Center is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 14 at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). The price of admission is donation of one non-perishable food item, which will go to the RCC Thanksgiving Food Drive.

In celebration of Fire Prevention Week, all Fairfax County Fire and Rescue stations will be hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Citizens are invited to meet firefighters, see the fire trucks, join in the activities and learn about fire safety. Local stations include Reston (1820 Wiehle Ave.), North Point (1117 Reston Ave.), Herndon (680 Spring St.) and Fox Mill (2610 Reston Parkway).

Lake Anne Brew House will hold a fundraiser for the South Lakes High School band, which is raising money to travel to Pearl Harbor, from 7-9 p.m. tonight. The Brew House will donate $1 per pint or soda purchased to the band.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” Walk will take place tonight at Reston Town Center. Event festivities will start at 5 p.m., with the 1.5-mile walk to go off at 7.

The Runway to the Cure Fashion Show is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon at the Reston Town Center pavilion. Hosted by Scout & Molly’s, RTC and Athleta, the fashion show will highlight many designer fashions. Models are volunteers and include breast cancer survivors, customers and local high school students. Suggested donation is $25. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

During “Giraffe-toberfest,” celebrate fall with animals at Roer’s Zoofari (1228 Hunter Mill Road) on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can meet the zoo’s giraffe “Waffles.” Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will support giraffe conservation.

Reston Association will hold an open house at The Lake House (11450 Baron Cameron Ave.) from 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Author Karen See will discuss her book, “The Should Syndrome,” from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Scrawl Books (11862 Market St.).

Many restaurants and bars in Reston will have live music this weekend. These include Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.) every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) every Friday from 6-10 p.m; and Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N.) every Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Golf Fundraiser Pays Legal Fees in Open Space Fight — Rescue Reston’s recent event at Reston National Golf Course raised money to go toward paying off the $153,000 in legal fees the group has incurred fighting its battle to protect the course from development. [Connection Newspapers]

County Celebrates High-Rise Construction Safety — “The cranes in Reston and Tysons are the most dramatic sign that parts of our county are changing into a more urban environment. Before these new high-rise buildings are built, years of planning go into making sure they are safe for the occupants and the community.” [Fairfax County]

Firefighters Support Breast Cancer Awareness — In an effort to heighten awareness in the fight against breast cancer, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department employees have been authorized to wear FRD-issued pink T-shirts while on duty from Oct. 9-23. The shirts are worn as a symbol of support and recognition for all those who have been touched by breast cancer. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

Preparedness Event Slated for Saturday — The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management is partnering with numerous county agencies and other partners, such as the American Red Cross, to host a Preparedness Awareness Weekend (PAW) event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax). [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Digital-Media Company Moves Into New Town Center Home — Intermarkets, a Reston-based digital-media company whose portfolio includes The Drudge Report and The Political Insider, is now headquartered on the 11th floor of Reston Town Center’s One Freedom Square. [Virginia Business]

Food Collection Helps Herndon Students — Nonprofit organization Food for Neighbors collected food on a recent Saturday at Plaza America, with items collected going to students in need at several county locations, including Herndon middle and high schools. The program is working to add other schools, including South Lakes High School, to its efforts. [Fairfax County Times]

County Task Force Rides Out Maria — Virginia Task Force One, Fairfax County’s elite urban search and rescue team, has been busy this past month assisting with efforts following hurricanes Harvey and Irma. They were scheduled to go to Mexico to help following this week’s earthquake there, but instead find themselves waiting out Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. [WJLA]

Metro Lines Slow This Weekend — Work west of Foggy Bottom means the Orange, Blue and Silver lines are only scheduled to run every 24 minutes this weekend. The Silver Line will only run between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston. [WTOP]

New FCPS Superintendent Talks About Goals — Dr. Scott Brabrand says there’s work to be done in the district, including diversifying the workforce and scaling back demands on teachers. [Washington Post]

Sterling Woman Killed in Route 7 Crash — Shirley Lee Corum, 75, was eastbound on Route 7 near the Dulles Toll Road on Monday morning when she crossed over the median into the westbound lanes and hit a guardrail. Police say Corum suffered a “medical emergency” that led to the accident. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Local Students Up for National Merit Scholarship Program — Rohan Chandra and Eshaan Sarup, of South Lakes High School, and Michael J. Barth, of Herndon High School, are among 16,000 students nationwide who are continuing in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth a total of more than $32 million. [Reston Patch/Herndon Patch]

Dogs Die in Vienna House Fire — Crews responded to the 2000 block of Gunnell Farms Drive early Sunday morning to battle a blaze in a two-story home. The homeowners were not home, but two dogs who were inside lost their lives. The fire caused an estimated $273,750 in damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

New Turf Field at Herndon Park — A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place earlier this month for the new turf soccer pitch at Herndon Community Center’s Bready Park. The Town of Herndon paid $566,000 from its general fund for the project, while Fairfax County provided a $125,000 grant and Herndon Youth Soccer will pay $400,000. [Connection Newspapers]

Plans for a temporary home for Reston Fire and Rescue Station 25 will go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission next week for a public hearing.

The permanent fire station, located at 1820 Wiehle Ave., will be replaced in the next few years. During the work, there will be no room on that site for fire operations to be based.

The temporary home for the fire company at 1800 Cameron Glen Drive will be a 7,680-square foot, one-story pre-manufactured modular building containing living quarters and office space, along with three apparatus bays. Construction is expected to begin next summer.

The site was used by Reston Hospital Center as a temporary helipad in 2013. Two years later, it was used as a temporary surface parking lot for the Reston District Police Station during construction of its new station.

Project manager Lisa Goddard, of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, previously told Reston Now that a full restoration of the temporary site, with removal of all improvements back to its original state of a grass lot, will take place once the fire company moves into its new permanent home on Wiehle Avenue. She said no trees will be removed in the implementation of the temporary fire station.

Reston Fire and Rescue was one of five fire stations approved for replacement and/or renovation under the county’s 2015 Public Safety Bond Referendum. The new fire station on Wiehle Avenue, according to the county’s Capital Improvement Plan, will cost about $13 million. It is needed due to “outdated infrastructure and critical operational space deficiencies.” The work on the new station is estimated to take place from spring 2019 through late 2020.

The Planning Commission hearing is scheduled to take place during the Thursday, Sept. 14 meeting, which begins at 8:15 p.m. at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. The project is then slated to go before the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing at its Tuesday, Sept. 26 meeting at 3:30 p.m.

County Water Rescue Team Helping in Texas — About 14 members of Fairfax County’s swift-water rescue team left Sunday for Texas, where they are assisting in rescue efforts after massive flooding related to Hurricane Harvey. They expect to be there for about two weeks. [WJLA/Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

SLHS Football Team Starts Season with Big Win — The South Lakes Seahawks opened the 2017 varsity football season Friday night with a 42-7 win over Woodson High School. [ScoreStream]

Green Fireball Streaks Across Sky — Did you happen to notice a bright green streak across the sky at about 9:14 p.m. Friday? You weren’t the only one. Reports of the meteor came from across Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond. [Fauquier Times]

Deon King a Strong Performer Again for Browns — The Cleveland Browns are 3-0 on the preseason, with their latest win coming Saturday as they topped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 13-9. One of the Browns’ leaders on defense in the victory was South Lakes High School graduate Deon King, who recorded five tackles. [ESPN]

Herndon Ballet Company Looks to Expand — Classical Ballet Theatre (320 Victory Drive, Herndon) is undertaking a fundraising campaign to convert its rehearsal space into an all-new dance theater that will seat up to 150 people. [Fairfax Times]

(This article was updated at about 4:15 p.m. after Fairfax County Fire and Rescue provided a press release on the incident.)

Work is continuing as usual today at Bechtel (12011 Sunset Hills Road) after a Sunday fire on the building’s 11th floor.

Affected employees remain at work Monday but have been moved to other areas of the building, said Iva Zagar, Bechtel spokesperson.

“[Our facilities team] has been really helpful to the people who have been affected, to point them in the right direction,” she said. “I haven’t heard that anybody can’t do work, so everything is smooth this morning.”

The two-alarm fire before 8 a.m. Sunday at the One Reston Overlook building was electrical in nature, said Bill Delaney, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue public information officer. It involved a junction box around a set of work stations, he said, but how the box failed remains under investigation.

“They know it started there, but they’re still trying to figure out exactly what occurred,” Delaney said.

A restoration crew is at the site Monday working to clean up damage caused by the flames and accompanying smoke. According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, damages from the fire are estimated at about $40,000. About 20 employees were working in the building at the time of the blaze; however, no one was reported injured.

“The good news is, the fire sprinklers did their job — they were able to contain the fire,” Delaney said. “Then our folks got there and were able to put the remainder of the fire out, but it did generate a good deal of smoke, and there was some damage as well from the actual flames.”

Light smoke damage was also reported in the 12th floor, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Bechtel is the largest construction and civil engineering company in the United States, and is one of the largest privately owned companies in the nation. Its Reston location is its nuclear, security and environmental business office.

Live Music for National Night Out — Tonight’s National Night Out activities at Lake Anne Plaza will include an acoustic performance by Alex Perez at 5:30 p.m., a DJ and the Emotion Dance and Fitness Studio from 6-8 p.m., and an 8 p.m. show from Cinema Hearts. There will also be kids’ activities and BOGO Krazy Kustard Shakes at Kustard & Co. (1631 Washington Plaza N.). [Press Release]

State of Environment Report OK’d by RA Board — The summary, produced by Reston Association’s Environmental Advisory Committee, is part of a new effort to publish an annual report on the state and management of the environment in Reston. The working group, which is comprised of nine members, spent over 1,000 combined volunteer hours compiling data. [Reston Association]

Best Ice Cream Sandwiches in DC Area — In its list of the top gooey goodies in the region, Washingtonian magazine has a recommendation for those going to Ted’s Bulletin (11948 Market St.): ask for an ice cream sandwich made with their housemade pop-tarts. [Washingtonian]

Is Your Pet Prepared? — Fairfax County officials want to make sure residents are not only thinking about emergency preparedness plans for the family, but for pets as well. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

Police Seek Suspect in Vienna Stabbing — Fairfax County Police have been searching since Thursday morning for the suspect in a stabbing that took place near the Vienna Metro station. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is a male of unknown race, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium build, and a light- to medium-brown complexion. He was wearing a black, hooded shirt pulled over his head. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Deadline for Cardboard Boat Registration Nears — The first Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta is coming up Aug. 12, and the last day to get a boat registered for the event is Tuesday. [Reston Museum]

New Name Coming for J.E.B. Stuart High — By 2019, the Falls Church school named after a Confederate general will have its name changed. The Fairfax County School Board voted last night to make it happen. [NBC Washington]

Connolly: Trump’s Boy Scout Speech Shameful — In a letter to the national president of the Boy Scouts of America, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says the BSA should denounce the speech President Trump gave recently at the National Scout Jamboree. Connolly says Trump’s politicized rhetoric “directly contradicted the spirit of Scouting and the tenets of Boy Scout Law.” [The Hill]

Synthetic Soccer Field Coming to Great Falls — The $1.3 million project at Great Falls Nike Park (1089 Utterback Store Road) includes the conversion of an existing grass field to a synthetic turf field, a trail, storm drainage facilities, landscaping, field lighting and related improvements. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s scary and frustrating for people trying to get in touch with loved ones — but for first responders trying to communicate with each other, it’s downright dangerous.

Tuesday, Virginia became the first state to try to amend that situation by joining the FirstNet communications network. Being developed by AT&T, it is a secured broadband network that provides fast and reliable interoperability for first responders.

“You cannot ask men and women to put on that uniform, to put their lives on the line, and not give them the tools they need to keep themselves safe,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe during a ceremony Tuesday at FirstNet headquarters on Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston. “Today, we’re giving all those first responders the tools they need to be safe.”

McAuliffe was joined at the ceremony by fire and police chiefs from across Fairfax County, as well as by representatives of FirstNet and AT&T. T.J. Kennedy, president of FirstNet, said the network’s capacity will be built out over the next few months to allow non-AT&T users to join FirstNet as well.

According to the FirstNet website:

The FirstNet network grew out of and addresses a 9/11 Commission recommendation calling for interoperable communications for all U.S. first responders. With the FirstNet network, first responders will have access to fast, highly secure and reliable communications whenever they need them. This will help first responders stay safe while they help others during both day-to-day operations and disaster response and recovery, and when securing large events.

Richard Bowers, chief of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, said he is proud that Virginia is the first state to be “first in, all in, to opt in” to the network.

“In the past, first responders were not able to communicate over the commercial wireless networks during significant incidents as the networks became congested and overwhelmed,” Bowers said. “As a responder to 9/11, along with many of my other colleagues that are here today… we had that very problem.”

First responders in the FirstNet network will have special SIM cards in their cellphones that will allow them to stay connected on their own dedicated system. Bowers said the network represents one of the most important transformational changes in public safety communications in decades.

“FirstNet will enhance services and save lives of our citizens and first responders,” he said. “What a key point in all of today’s information that’s being shared.”

“I do hope that my fellow governors take heed,” he said. “Leaving here today, if something were to happen, I now in my conscience know that we have done everything we possibly can to keep our first responders safe.”